Security incident · CVE-2020-1495
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory.
Published Aug 17, 2020 · catalog updated Jun 17, 2026 · 365 apps
Last checked Nov 4, 2026. A connected source was read within the last 7 days.
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2020-1495. EPSS is 4.21%. Act only if a listed version of 365 apps is installed.
Gaps on this record
- No version range is stored. A customer cannot check an installed version against this record.
- No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
Same product and reporting
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- Severity
- High8.8
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 4.21%
- Remediation
- Advisory link
- Affected products
- cpe microsoft/365 apps · cpe microsoft/excel · cpe microsoft/office
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) containing a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.
Are you affected?
Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.
The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.
- cpe microsoft/365 appsversion unspecified
- cpe microsoft/excel2010
- cpe microsoft/excel2013
- cpe microsoft/excel2016
- cpe microsoft/office2010
How to fix CVE-2020-1495
No stored fix
No vendor fix text is stored. Use the linked advisory before you change production.
Version check
No version range is stored, so an installed version cannot be checked on this page.
Advisory
Open the cve_org record and follow its fix.
Official advisories
What to do
Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.
Should you patch?
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2020-1495. EPSS is 4.21%. Act only if a listed version of 365 apps is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Compare what you have installed with 2010, 2013, 2016. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
No weakness class is stored. EPSS 4.21%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
No public source repository is identified for this product.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Aug 17, 2020 · Monitored products — critical
Detected
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then ins
Jun 17, 2026 · Monitored products — critical
Updated
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then ins
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2020-1495
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - Monitored products — criticalVendor advisoryCVE-2020-1495
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then ins
nvd.nist.gov
References
Freshness
Last verified in this catalog Nov 4, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.
- CVE.orgNov 2, 2026
- Monitored products — criticalNov 1, 2026